Old Montreal | A mother and her seven-year-old daughter mowed down by the fire

This is the kind of outcome everyone feared. A mother and her daughter, barely seven years old, died in the arson fire that ravaged a building in Old Montreal on the night of Thursday to Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Press. The building is owned by Émile Benamor, who also owns the building destroyed by a fatal arson last year in the same area.

The SPVM has officially confirmed that two remains were extricated from the rubble, but refuses to discuss their identities for the moment. However, reliable sources have confirmed The Press that the mother and her child lost their lives. Several police officers, even among the most hardened, were in shock Friday at the horror of the situation.

According to authorities, the fire broke out around 2:40 a.m. in a three-story building located at the intersection of Notre-Dame and Bonsecours streets. The Press obtained surveillance camera images showing a masked suspect, dressed all in black, approaching the building just before the flames appeared. The Montreal Fire Department (SIM) triggered a general alarm to combat the blaze while, for their part, the police are treating the case as an arson.

According to sources from The Press who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, the fire is said to have caused at least two deaths.

Read the article “A youth hostel with windowless rooms”

The building housed a restaurant and cafe on the ground floor, where the flames started, as well as a 20-room youth hostel on the upper floors. Contacted by telephone, the operator of the youth hostel refused to identify himself and to provide information on the occupation of the establishment last night.

Riadh Hasseni, owner of the Loam restaurant, which appears to be the birthplace of the fire, was in the dark Friday morning. “It is very early to answer questions, I myself was not able to approach. The investigators are doing their job,” he said.

One person was taken to hospital with burns. According to our information, she is in critical condition. Two other people were reportedly injured, including one who was inconvenienced by the smoke.

“We expect deaths”

“Several people managed to escape unharmed [du bâtiment]. Unfortunately, we expect deaths,” Inspector David Shane confirmed at a press briefing on Friday afternoon. It is too early to confirm the number of victims and injured. A telephone line has been set up for families or loved ones of potential victims. “Public collaboration is very important.”

The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) has launched a mobilization plan, involving several units from its specialized investigations division. The file was quickly transferred to the Major Crimes Section of the SPVM, which works in conjunction with the arson module. Over the next few days, firefighters will have to make the site safe and accessible for investigators.

« Il est impossible de confirmer actuellement le nombre de personnes décédées et leur identité » – L’inspecteur David Shane, du SPVM

Une partie de l’immeuble s’est d’ailleurs effondrée vers 4 h 20. Une alerte générale est toujours en cours et 125 pompiers sont sur place.

Incendie suspect

Plusieurs rues étaient encore bloquées par le SPVM vendredi soir dans le secteur situé près de l’hôtel de ville. Des coupures de courant sont aussi possibles dans les environs.

« L’enquête a été transférée au Service de police de la Ville de Montréal étant donné qu’il s’agit d’un incendie d’origine suspecte », a indiqué Valérie Plante, la mairesse de Montréal, dans un message publié sur X.

Le rôle d’évaluation foncière de la Ville de Montréal indique que l’édifice patrimonial est détenu par Émile Benamor. Ce dernier est aussi le propriétaire de l’immeuble situé sur la place d’Youville rasé par un incendie criminel ayant coûté la vie à sept personnes, le 16 mars 2023.

Six mois plus tard, M. Benamor avait poursuivi la Ville pour 7,5 millions, alléguant plusieurs fautes en matière de prévention d’incendie. La Cour supérieure avait finalement donné raison à la Ville sur la majorité des points de reproche.

« C’est évident que ça nous fait penser à ce qui s’est passé il y a deux ans […] I know we have questions, they are all very good, but we will have to let the SPVM do their investigation,” underlined Valérie Plante after a visit to the site on Friday afternoon.

A youth hostel

The building that burned last night housed a youth hostel, Le 402, which offers rooms to rent for the night with a shared living room and bathroom. On the reservation site Booking.com, transactions with the establishment have been suspended.

The building was inspected at the end of September by SIM officials, who did not find any major problem on the premises, according to our information.

The SPVM and the SIM were not currently able to say how many people were staying in the hotel.

Martin Guilbault, SIM division head, confirmed that formal notices had been sent to the owner of the building following the 2023 fire. “All major non-compliances were rectified in spring 2024,” he assured. There were no windowless rooms in the building that he knew of, he said.

M^e Alexandre Bergevin, the lawyer who represents the interests of owner Émile Benamor, was waiting for news from emergency services on Friday morning. “We have contacted the authorities and we are ready to collaborate further. “, he declared to The Press.

Dozens of evacuees

Hatim Benallouane lives close to the source of the fire. He is one of many people who had to leave their home in the middle of the night, without their personal belongings. “The buildings are old, they burned quickly. It threatened to fall. I’m not having a good morning, but at least I’m safe. » He will spend the day in the Red Cross premises intended for disaster victims, not far from the scene of the fire. There is little chance that he will be able to return to his home today, he admits. “At least I have options, family. »

Othmane Hosni, his partner, and their baby seemed desperate Friday morning. They arrived in Montreal Thursday evening. The start of their family vacation was turned upside down: they smelled smoke and had to evacuate the hotel. “We are very tired. We are waiting to be transferred to another place,” explains Mr. Hosni with a sigh.

Tania Adnane, who lives opposite 402 Notre-Dame, deplored the fact that a second arson attack could have occurred in her neighborhood. “The first time it was sad, but now I’m just frustrated that we let it happen again,” she said Friday afternoon, returning from a walk with her dog. “It’s worrying for those who live in the neighborhood,” she added.

Helpline

A help center and a telephone line for victims and their families have been set up. If you believe that one of your loved ones could have been in the building, you can contact 514 280-1294, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With The Canadian Press, Isabelle Ducas and Jean-Philippe Arcand, The Press